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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Thomas J. "Tom" Mikulecky of Peoria,
4who passed away on September 26, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Tom Mikulecky was born to Dr. Elston J.
6Mikulecky, D.D.S. and Doris Alberta Charleston Mikulecky in
7Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 8, 1938; he attended
8Glencoe Public Schools in Minnesota, where he played baritone;
9he earned his Bachelor of Science in Political
10Science/International Relations from the University of
11Minnesota in 1960, where he was a member of the marching band;
12he received his master's degree in International Relations
13from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Harvard and
14Tufts Universities in 1961; he served in the U.S. military
15from 1962 to 1964, where he was deployed as first lieutenant to
16Okinawa, Japan; he completed his doctorate in Political
17Science/Public Administration at the University of Arizona;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Tom Mikulecky taught as a full-time adjunct
20professor at Southern Methodist University; he later taught at
21Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University, and
22Heartland Community College in Bloomington; he noted his
23greatest enjoyment in teaching was when his students brought

 

 

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1current public issues to class for discussion and integration
2into the current curriculum topic; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Tom Mikulecky worked on developing grants to
4supplement the City of Tucson's capital improvements program
5as his first administrative job; he then served as assistant
6to the city manager for intergovernmental services of the City
7of Dallas, Texas; after a teaching stint at Southern Methodist
8University, he returned to management as county manager of
9Summit County, Colorado; he then served as city manager of
10Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Peoria, Illinois; before retiring,
11he performed municipal management consulting services for a
12variety of cities and organizations, including as acting
13administrator of Pekin, city administrator of Farmer City,
14city manager of Streator, city administrator of Braidwood, and
15city administrator of Carpentersville; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Tom Mikulecky was deeply committed to his faith,
17and he participated in the Newmann Center at the University of
18Minnesota; he loved music and sang bass throughout his life,
19culminating in several years with the men's choir of the
20Orpheus Club of Peoria; he also enjoyed fishing, golfing,
21dancing, and walking the beach with his wife on South Padre
22Island, Texas; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Tom Mikulecky was known for his deep voice, large

 

 

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1stature, and commanding presence as a no-nonsense leader; he
2will be remembered by his family for his family fishing trips,
3his booming harmony in mass on Sundays, his patient yet
4pointed encouragement, and his unconditional love; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Tom Mikulecky is survived by his wife of 58
6years, Patsy (Patricia Ann); his children, Joe (Dorothy)
7Mikulecky, Chris (Dayton) Sitz, Paul (Marga) Mikulecky, and
8Susan Boyme; his grandchildren, Carmen, Claire, Colin, Owen,
9Ronen, and Morgan; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
12Thomas J. "Tom" Mikulecky and extend our sincere condolences
13to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
14it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of Tom Mikulecky as an expression of
17our deepest sympathy.